Method of bookbinding



Dec. 25, 1951 H. FREEMAN 2,579,488

METHOD OF BOOKBINDING Filed Oct. 23, 1946 2:25am 5.2mm

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Dec. 25, 1951 H. FREEMAN 2,579,488

ME'IZHOD OF BOOKBINDING Filed Oct. 25, 1946 I 2 SHEETS -SHEET 2 TbSouace OF ENEHGY A T-TOR u E Y8.

Patented Dec. 25, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METHOD OFBOOKBINDING Harry Freeman, Providence, R. I. Application October 23, 1946, Serial No. 705,044

This invention relates to the art 01' book binding.

Usually in binding of a book some stitching of the folios occurs prior to the placing of the easing about the folios and securing the same in position. The stitching is an expensive operation and one which requires considerable preparation and handling. Likewise, considerable handling has to be had for the assembly of the case about the folios which have been stitched together.

One of the objects of the invention is to assemble all of the parts of the book and secure these parts together without further handling.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device whereby the folios to be bound maybe placed in their relative position and the case may, at the same time, be placed in its relative position to the folios; and then, by electrically heating, the parts may be secured together so that the book may be bound with the folios and case complete and in either one or in successive operations without intermediate handling or manipulation of assembled parts.

More specifically an object of this invention is to provide a plastic strip of material which will have the essentials of the book binding parts for securing together the folios and for securing the case to the folios.

Another object of this invention is to provide this strip of material, which is utilized in my new method of book binding, of such shape that it may be extruded in the cross section desired ready for use by cutting oil to the required length.

Another'object of this invention is to provide a dielectric means for quickly heating and softening the strip which is utilized in this invention.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction as will be more fully discribed and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a book which has been bound in accordance with the method set forth in this application.

Fig. 2 is a. diagrammatic view illustrating three different circuits which may be utilized'one after the other in dielectric heating of the material or strip which is utilized in this inventon.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view illustrating the bound folios and strip which is utilized for securing these folios together and also illustrating a fragmental portion of the case for the book.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Figure 3' but illustrating a different circuit for bringing into action different electrodes of the heating apparatus.

4 Claims. 281-21) Fig. 5 is a view similar to Figs. 3 and 4 but 11- lustrating the operation of other electrodes.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing a strip of one form which is utilized in this invention.

' Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing a similar strip of a modified arrangement.

In proceeding with this invention I extrude a plastic material through an opening of a certain shape so that this material will be produced in proper cross sectional shape and of indefinite length which may be cut off in accordance with the length of the book to be bound. The strip consists essentially of two-ply material, with one ply being that used and applied to the folded edges of the book folios, while the other ply is attached to the back of the book casing. Two sets of flanges extend from these different plies, one set has one flange secured to the outer surface of the top folio, while the other is secured to the outer surface of the bottom folio. The other set of flanges are secured so that one flange is attached to the inner surface of each board of the casing. The securing of the strip is accomplished by placing an electrode between the plies and by the use of other suitable electrodes extending along the outer surface of the back of the casing and along the adjoining surfaces of the flanges and at the free edges of the book folios.

I may selectively cause high frequency dielectric heat to be passed to heat this plastic material in different portions, first softening it so that it will conform and adhere to the folded edges of the folios when the same is softened, and thereafter softening and causing it to adhere to the outer surfaces of the folios and to the case. The heating is accomplished quickly by the use of this dielectric heat, and the circuits may be selected in a very convenient manner so that the parts to be assembled need not be changed after once placed in position.

With reference to the drawings, and particularly Fig. 21 provide a plurality of folios In assembled in superimposed relation with their folded edges 1 l substantially vertically aligned. The casing of the book to receive the folios consists of the top board 12, the bottom board l3 and the back It. My strip for joining these parts together is shown in perspective in Fig. 6 and comprises aply I5 to'extend along the folded edges H of the folios, a ply Hi to extend along the inner surface of the back M of the casing, flanges I1 and |8,'one of which extends along the outer surface of the top folio, while the other flange l8 extends along the outer surface of the 3 bottom folio. Additional flanges l9 and are provided. The flange l9 extends along the inner surface of the board I2 of the casing, while the flange 20 extends along the inner surface of the board l3 of the casing.

This strip may be varied somewhat in form from the extruded form of Fig. 6 by connecting together two sheets of material, one of which is designed generally 2|, and the other of which is designated generally 22; these being shown in perspective in Fig. 7 and being joined as at 23 and 24 so as to provide essentially a ply 25, a ply 26, flanges 21 and 28 for the outer surface of the folios and flanges 29 and 3B for the inner surface of the boards of the casing. 7

After providing the strip, such as shown ineither Figs. 6 or '7, and positioning thisstrip, as

shown in Figs. 2 to 5, so that the ply I5 is along the folded edges i I of the folios it, the ply H5 is along the inner surface of the back 14 of the casing, the flanges IT and H3 are along the outer surfaces of the folios H3 and the flanges i8 and 2.0 area-long the innersurfaces of the boards l2 and (301 the casing, I provide an aluminum electrode 3! which will pass through thespace tz'between. the plies l5 and i5 orthespace between the plies and 2G, and, also, electrode 34-: to engage the free edges of the folios so that through this electrode 3% pressure may be brought upon the edges of the folios in the direction shown by arrow 36 in Figs. 4 and 5 for pressing the folios in the direction shown by the arrow. I, also, provide electrode 31 which is in engagement with the flanges ii and it and electrode which is in engagement with flanges l8 and 20 as shown in Figs. 2 to 5, inclusive. These electrodes are also of a character so that pressure may be applied to them in the direction of the arrows 39 and dllso as to force the flanges I1 and i3 and'folios between them firmly into engagement. Another electrode L1! is provided for engagement with the back M of the casing and is of such a character that pressure may be applied through this electrode in the direction of the arrow-42 as shown in Figs. 3 to 5. Other, means, 43 and; t l as shown in Figs. 3 to 5, may engage the folioson their outer surfaces so as to. apply pressure through them asat 45 and 35 as shown in Fig. 3.

Three circuits for dielectric heating are utilized. The met of the circuits, as shown. diagrammatically in Fig. is designated generally and is. connected to the electrode 3|. through. the lead 5! while the return is conveniently shown by ground connection. When this circuit is in operation, the dielectric heat is passed through the ply it from the electrode 31 to the electrode 34 and will cause a heating of the ply l5 sufficient ,so thatthe ply 15 will flow into the spaces be.- tween the folios at their folded edges H and will adhere to the folios at this location. This circuit is shown particularly in Fig. 3 as it applies to thev folios and strip there involved, while it is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 2.

After heating by this flrst circuit of operation just described, this circuit will be disconnected-- v and a second circuit will be brought into operation which is shown diagrammatically and designated 52 in Fig. 2. In this case, the source of energy will be supplied through the lead 53 to the .three electrodes 3!, 3i and 38 while the return by electrode 4!, which is shown as grounded to. complete the dielectric circuit. When this .circuit is energized, the ply l6 and flanges. 1'9 jand'ZB will be heated until they are softened sum- 1 ciently so as to adhere to the back It and boards 12 and I3 of the book casing.

The third circuit of operation is designated generally 54 in Fig. 2 and is that shown supplying 5 energy through the lead 55 to the electrode 38 while the circuit from the electrode 3? is shown as grounded to complete this circuit. In this case, the flanges H and H? are heated until they become suiflciently soft so as to adhere to the outer surfaces of the folios H).

These circuits which operate in sequence, one after the other, heat the plastic material which will be a polyvinyl chloride or some other suitable plastic and which will soften very quickly with this type of dielectric heating. After the first circuit has performed its operation in a certain definite length of time, the next circuit may be automatically brought into operation; and after it has served its purpose, the next circuit may be automatically brought into operation so that the time, required for softening and adhering of the parts of the strip to the parts of thebook to be assembled may take place quickly.

It will. be apparent that plastic strips of various chemical contents may be provided so long as they will perform. the adhesive function and the function of being sufficiently flexible for the opening of the pages and sufficiently strong to withstand the strain which will normally be placed upon them. It will be readily apparent that the strip, as shown in Fig. "I, may be subs'tituted for the strip shown in Fig. 6 in the operation. The, cost of book assembly by reason of the provision of this new sort of strip and the method of adhesion will be greatly reduced.

I claim:

1. In the art of book binding a member comprising. a pair of spaced plies of a solid. flexible thermoplastic material which may be softened to mold itself about the edges of folios to be bound together and adhere thereto and to the back of a ,case for the book, said strip having flanges of the same piece of material to adhere to the outer surfaces of the outer folios.

2. In the art of book binding, a member comprising a pair of spaced pliesof a solid flexible material which may be softened to mold itself about the edges of folios to be bound together and adhere thereto and to the back of a case for the book, said binding member having a pair of integral flanges extending one flange from each of said plies, one to adhere to the outer surfaces of the outer folios and the other to adhere to the inner surfaces of the boards of the 55 cas 3. The method of binding a book which comprises. pr-oviding a strip of thermoplastic material having two plies and two flanges, placing the edges of book folios against the inner one of said plies. and between a pair of said flanges, positioning an electrode between said plies and positioning another electrode so as to provide with the first electrode an electronic field cont the folio edges contactingsaid'inner ply and energizing said field to soften the inner ply and forcing, the softened ply between saidfolios, and

as another operation placing a casing against the other pair of flanges and positioning electrodes to provide an electronic field inclu ng the flanges and casing and energizing said id to soften the flanges and cement them to said casmg.

4. The method of binding a book which comprises providing a strip of thermoplastic material having two plies and two flanges, placing the edges of book folios against the inner one of said plies and between a pair of said flanges, positioning an electrode between said plies and positioning another electrode so as to provide with the first electrode an electronic field containing the folio edges contacting said inner ply and energizing said field to soften the inner ply and forcing the softened ply between said folios, and as another operation placing a casing against the other pair of flanges and positioning electrodes to provide an electronic field including the flanges and casing and energizing said field to soften the flanges and cement them to said casing, and as a third operation utilizing two of the same electrodes as in the second operation to create a field including said first flanges and folio and energizing said field to soften said flanges and cement them to said folios.

HARRY FREEMAN.

6 nn anenens one!) The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

5 UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,858,685 Semon May 17, 1932 1,991,662 Crone Feb. 19, 1935 2,087,480 Pitman July 20, 1937 19 2,375,827 Slaughter May 15, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 608,954 Great Britain July 2, 1946 15 

